FATS DOMINO–Teenage Party with Mr Domino (Bear Family) 10" The Ballads of Fats Domino (Bear Family) CD The 10" LP Teenage Party with Mr Domino is a reissue of a 1963 Netherlands release freshly pressed onto gold vinyl. A well-chosen blend of early rock ditties circa 1953-1962, it is entertaining and concise. Some million sellers are here: The stomp-ing "I'm Walkin'," the teen appeal working man's lament "Blue Monday," the countryish tribute to a varmint "Bo Weevil," and the plead-ing R&B of"Please Don't Leave Me." However, this 10-song disc mainly works because of the less famous ]racks, Domino's 1962 allusion to „idninY Jones's "Handy Man," "MY Real Name," is a happy boast. The lost love song "It Keeps rifling," features a trilling guitar Hre and trumpets instead of s.. sound is further updated on the lawful "Rockin' Bicycle" where '",kne not only smartly double-Ceics his vocal on the chorus but . down some nasty piano bogie the middle.

The downside? The album notes are not in English. Sporting rock solid booklet notes is The Ballads of Fats Domino, a 32- song collection of the Louisiana great's less propulsive big beat sides. Some mammoth hits are compiled including "Blueberry Hill," "Walk-ing to New Orleans" and "Valley of Tears," which exemplify his formula. Backed by co-writer/producer and arranger Dave Bartholomew's crackerjack studio band, Domino varies his approach endlessly switching from blues ("Trouble in Mind," "Good Hearted Man," "Goin' Home"), sentimental pop standards (I'm In the Mood for Love," "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking"), to country ("Three Nights a Week," "You Win Again").

Domino's ability to phrase like a country singer allowed him to sound equally at home singing about downhome heartache ("What a Price") as he did uptown sin ("One Night"). Despite the occasional inclusion of strings and chorus, the concept of balladry is loosely applied here but if the label wants to refer to the jazzy blues of "Natural Born Lover," the self-pitying remake of the 'Ain't That a Shame" ("Poor Me") or the pay-back R8,13 of "I Hear You Knocking" as ballads, that's OK.

Even the most pedestrian material ala "My Heart rewrite of Jimmie Rodgers is Bleeding" and "Helping' Hand for a Train") features everything t "Waiting that is good about this artist; his piano chipper vocals, trademark style, and that famous New Orleanssecond line rhythm that makes most of it suitable for dancing. Domino Naturally, everything tTi— a corded at Imperial is available these two Bear Family box set,ii otions prove more manageable co Keen Burke) eminently satisfying.